Nightly News   |  May 27, 2011

In Tripoli, signs that Gadhafi stronghold is hurting

NBC Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reports from Tripoli, where military and diplomatic pressure on Muammar Gadhafi is growing.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>> back now to the business of foreign policy and the president's overseas trip. while world leaders were laying out their position on libya, things have changed dramat lically in the past few weeks. richard engle has made his way back to trip olli to show you what life is like there today.

>> reporter: tripolo seems sad but different. different in profound ways from our last visit. six weeks ago in tripoli , every time we took out a camera, crowds rushed up to show their loyalty to moammar gadhafi . back then in green square , there were pep rallies for the cult of gadhafi every day. now in green square , the platform where the rallies were held is empty, the bandstand broken. even gadhafi 's giant portrait doesn't hang straight anymore. gadhafi himself hasn't been seen in public in weeks, only making rare television appearances from undisclosed appearances. the area around gadhafi 's compound was bombed three times adjust this week, a staharp increase. british intelligence say gadhafi may be hiding in hospitals. libyans who oppose the regime are generally too scared to speak on scam racamera, but one man said he believes 90% of the people are against it. across tripoli , there's little sign of the bomb damage. markets are full. there's still plenty to buy. customers are few. so many shops are closed. economic sanctions are having a major impact here. perhaps even more than the bombing campaign itself. fuel shortages are now so severe, it is take up to four days waiting in line to fill up your car. we have been told banks will eon eonly distribute up to $600 a month no matter how much money is in the account, and inflation is driving up prices at least 50%. but the regime remains in control here. as we filmed, security stopped us. not wanting the world to see that tripoli , gadhafi 's stronghold, is hurting. richard engle, nbc